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Tissue Taurine Content, Activity of Taurine Synthesis Enzymes and Conjugated Bile Acid Composition of Taurine-Deprived and Taurine-Supplemented Rhesus Monkey Infants at 6 and 12 mo of Age^1,2,

J. A. Sturman³, J. M. Messing, S. S. Rossi^*, A. F. Hofmann^* and M. Neuringer

Department of Developmental Biochemistry, New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, Institute for Basic Research in Developmental Disabilities, Staten Island, NY 10314 ^* Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093 Department of Medicine, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR 97201 Division of Neuroscience, Oregon Regional Primate Research Center, Beaverton, OR 97006

Concentrations of taurine were measured in a number of tissues from rhesus monkeys fed a taurine-free human infant formula with or without taurine supplementation for 6 mo and 12 mo. At 6 mo, tissue taurine content was significantly greater in the monkeys supplemented with taurine, but by 12 mo, there was no longer a significant difference. Activities of enzymes involved in taurine biosynthesis did not differ between the groups at any age. There was no difference in biliary bile acid class composition between the groups, but the proportion of bile acids conjugated with taurine reflected the tissue taurine content (i.e., was significantly greater in monkeys supplemented with taurine at 6 mo). This difference also disappeared by 12 mo. These results indicate that dependence on dietary sources of taurine persists for at least the first 6 mo but declines by 12 mo. Thus, dietary taurine content is reflected in the tissue taurine content and proportion of bile acids conjugated with taurine in infant rhesus monkeys at least until 6 mo of age, but the body taurine status in animals 12 mo old or older is not an indicator of previous status.

KEY WORDS: • bile acids • human infant formula • infant rhesus monkeys • taurine • taurine biosynthesis

¹ This research was supported by National Institute of Health grants HD-18678 and RR-00163 and AM-21506, 30750, and 32130.

² This is publication number 1737 of the Oregon Regional Primate Research Center.

³ To whom correspondence should be addressed.

Manuscript received 22 August 1990. Revision accepted 31 October 1990.